Today's Dental News

The International and American Associations for Dental Research recently made a discovery that could be pivotal for tooth root formation.

The protein called ß-catenin is expressed in odontoblasts and is required for root formation. The Chonbuk National Korea School of Dentistry wrote the research paper and it appeared in the Journal of Dental Research.

The tooth root and the surrounding periodontium maintain the tooth in the jaw. The root develops after the process of morphogenesis. Prior to this study, little was known about the molecular mechanisms that control tooth root formation.

Read more: Certain Molecule is Necessary for Tooth Root Formation

Mercury use throughout the world could begin to decrease and eventually be phased out.

The United Nations recently discussed the issue but no date was set to fully phase out dental amalgam.

“This is the beginning of the end of dental amalgam globally,” said Michael T. Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, a US-based NGO, who is attending the mercury treaty talks. “We applaud the leadership role the US played in jump-starting support for a phase down in 2011 along with the concrete steps of the Nordic countries, Switzerland and Japan in phasing out amalgam.”

Read more: UN Treaty Could Phase Down Amalgam

There could be a correlation between blindness and tooth loss.

A recent study in the Journal of Periodontology has linked the two. The study indicated that men who lost teeth were as much as four times likelier to encounter age-related blindness. Age-related macular degeneration happens when the macula begins to deteriorate. Vision then suffers.

Earlier studies have displayed a link involving poor oral health and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Read more: Tooth Loss May be Linked to Age-Related Blindness

Some areas of Australia could use an infusion of dentists.

The rural areas of New South Wales are currently experiencing a shortage of dentists, according to the Australian Dental Association. This is happening despite the increasing number of dental school graduates in the area in recent years.

A common problem in Australia is that it’s assumed that when the dental graduation rate in an area increases, the number of dentists in the area will rise. That is not often the case, however.

Read more: Australia Needs More Dentists in Some Places